Races
In Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War, you are invited to experience four playable races, each with its own unique characteristics. Whether you prefer join the elite Space Marines, mysterious Eldar, ferocious Orks or traitorous Chaos Marines, the choice is up to you.
Space Marines
They form the unyielding fist of the Emperor, brutally crushing all who threaten his vast realm. The mere mention of their name elicits awe and reverence within the Imperium, while the same name draws cries of despair and fear among the many enemies of Man. They are the Space Marines, and there are few warriors in the galaxy that can match them.
Through a torturous regimen of organ replacement, genetic modification, psycho-chemical conditioning, and rigorous physical training that would kill a normal human, a Space Marine becomes superhuman. He can fight without sleep or food for weeks. He can digest poisons. He can breathe toxic gases. He can heal from grievous injury.
On top of his impressive physical powers, a Space Marine has access to some of the most devastating weaponry in the Imperium. From orbital strikes to lascannons to the trusty bolter, a single Space Marine can obliterate an entire city block.
Eldar
On the battlefield, the Eldar can best be described as a "finesse" army. Alone, each of their troop types is rather limited. In combination, the troop types compliment each other perfectly and are a fearsome force of war. Eldar players need to think like orchestra conductors, bringing in the right instrument of destruction at precisely the right time. Mastering this style of play is by no means easy. However, when played right, the Eldar are both a beautiful and terrible force to behold.
Orks
Orks are the most widespread and warlike race of aliens in the bloodstained galaxy of the 41st millennium. They only live for one thing and that's war. They are constantly fighting anything that gets in the way, even themselves! In fact the only thing keeping the Orks from uniting and bringing down the end of the galaxy is their inability to get along. Were they to organize and unify, they would quickly overwhelm and crush all opposition.
The basic Ork is a musclebound, hulking monster capable of ripping a man apart with it's bare hands. Their battle scarred green skin is tough and highly resistant to pain. In combat they can transform even the most common object into a lethal killing instrument. Orks aren't the brightest creatures in the galaxy, but they do possess a certain low cunning that can catch an overconfident commander of guard. In a word, the Orks are built for war.
Chaos Marines
Chaos Space Marines have most of the capabilities of regular Space Marines, though they also have Chaos abilities and gear that make them unique. Each of the four Chaos Gods have Chaos Space Marines devoted to their cult, be they Noise Marines in service of Slaanesh to Plague Marines in service of Nurgle. They can unleash untold horrors on their opponents, from Daemon Packs to Chaos Defilers. They can be organized in an infinite number of ways, which is appropriate because Chaos embodies disorder itself. In the end, Chaos Space Marine armies are feared opponents that are seen as highly unpredictable by those who fight them.